Columbia University

Columbia accepts applications from individuals in their senior year of undergraduate study or have an earned bachelor's degree.

PROGRAM CONTACT INFORMATION (2009-10)

Cynthia Worthington
Admissions Coordinator
Program in Physical Therapy
Columbia University
Neurological Institute, 8th Floor
710 West 168th Street
New York, New York 10032
Phone: 212-305-0470
Phone (alternate number):
Email: cw75@columbia.edu
Website: www.columbiaphysicaltherapy.org

APPLICATION DEADLINE FOR 2010 ENTERING CLASS

PTCAS Application Deadline	Tuesday, December 15, 2009
Deadline Type	FIRM Deadline
Application Close Date (for soft deadlines only)	.
Program Has Rolling Admissions Process?	Yes
Important Dates (if any): Interviews, required for program admission, will begin in November 2009 and continue through February 2010. Interviews are held Friday or Saturday and applicants should expect to spend a full day at Columbia. Following a rolling admissions format, acceptance letters are posted one-week post-interview. It is encouraged that applicants complete the application process as quickly as possible but no later than the December 15 deadline date. Applications on file to PTCAS by December 15, but remain incomplete, must have any missing documentation submitted by January 15.

SUPPLEMENTAL REQUIREMENTS

If supplemental materials are required, send items directly to the PT program.

Supplemental APPLICATION required?	NO
Supplemental MATERIALS required?	YES
If yes, list of items	Resume First Aid Certification CPR Certification
Supplemental FEE required?	NO
If yes, amount	$
Supplemental deadline(s)	.
Link to supplemental forms or instructions	.

PROGRAM PREREQUISITES

Course Prerequisites

Must applicants earn a Bachelor's degree prior to enrolling into the PT program? YES
For more information about course prerequisites, visit the program Web site: www.columbiaphysicaltherapy.org

Course Prerequisite Name or Subject Area	Req, Rec, Crq*	SEM hrs	QTR hrs	Lab Required (Y/N)	Additional Program Information
Biology I and II or its equivalent	REQ	8	-	YES	Must be taken through the appropriate science department. Life science and ecology courses can not be used to fulfill this prerequisite.
Anatomy and Physiology	REQ	8	-	YES	Can be taken as either separate courses or as Combined Anatomy and Physiology I and II courses.
Upper Divisional Biology	REQ	3	-	NO	Considered a 300-400 level course unless the college or university uses a different numbering system to designate junior/senior level courses. Kinesiology and Exercise Science majors can use a course from their major to fulfill this prerequisite.
Chemistry I and II	REQ	8	-	YES	.
Physics I and II	REQ	8	-	YES	Courses do not have to be calculus based.
Psychology	REQ	6	-	NA	Any 2 psychology courses will suffice. Abnormal Psychology or Life Span Development is recommended.
Statistics	REQ	3	-	NA	Business statistics is not acceptable.
Humanities and Social Sciences	REQ	15	-	NA	Five (5) courses are required.

* “Req” = required course; “Rec” = recommended course; “Crq” = conditionally required course

Graduate Record Examination (GRE)

Is the GRE required?	Required
Program’s GRE College Code	# 2137
Last acceptable GRE test date – YYYY-MM-DD (if applicable)	2009-12-01
Oldest GRE score considered – YYYY-MM-DD (if applicable)	2005-12-31

GRE table below may contain blank fields if program data is not available or applicable.

GRE Section	Minimum GRE Score	Average GRE Score for Accepted Students
Verbal	500	560
Verbal Percentile	.	.
Quantitative	500	660
Quantitative Percentile	.	.
Analytical Writing	3.5	5.0
Analytical Writing Percentile	.	.
Composite (verbal & quantitative)	.	.
Composite Percentile	.	.
Additional information about program’s GRE requirements	If GRE is taken more than once, test scores are not averaged. Best set of scores from any one testing date are considered.

References

Total number of references required by program: 3 References

EVALUATOR TYPE	Applicant must send one reference from this SPECIFIC type of evaluator	Applicant must send a reference from one or more evaluators in this category to fulfill program's requirements	Evaluator Type ACCEPTED	Evaluator Type NOT Accepted
Physical Therapist-1	X
Physical Therapist-2		X
Professor in Major		X
Professor		X
Academic		X
Supervisor/Employer		X
Teaching Assistant				X
PTA				X
Pre-PT Advisor		X
Politician/Elected Official				X
Health Care Professional				X
Friend				X
Family Member				X
Co-worker				X
Clergy				X
OTHER				X

Additional information about program’s reference requirements:

Two (2) letters of recommendation MUST be from academic sources; 1 letter from a physical therapist.
If applicant has worked/volunteered in more than one PT setting, an additional recommendation letter can be submitted.
If applicant is seeking a career change, an additional recommendation from an employer is acceptable.
Composite recommendations kept on file at the university and submitted by a pre-health/pre-medical committee or pre-health advisor is acceptable.

PT Observation Hours

Enter your PT observation hours on your PTCAS application. Print the PT Observation Hours form from the PTCAS application or use online PT Hours signature process, if the program requires you to have your hours verified by a physical therapist. Send signed forms to PTCAS.

PT HOURS	PROGRAM REQUIREMENT
Description of Program’s PT Hours Requirement	PT hours are required - no verification by a physical therapist
Total Number of PT Hours REQUIRED	75
Total Number of PT Hours RECOMMENDED
DEADLINE for Completion of All PT Hours YYYY-MM-DD
PAID Experience	Accepted
VOLUNTEER Experience	Accepted
INPATIENT Experience	Accepted
OUTPATIENT Experience	Accepted
Additional information about program’s PT hours requirement:

GPA Requirement

GPAs will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

GPA	Minimum GPA	Average GPA for Accepted Students
Overall Undergraduate Cumulative	2.75	3.54
Program-specific Prerequisite	2.75	3.51
Additional information about program’s GPA requirements (if any):	Initial grade and repeated course grade are averaged in calculating the program-specific grade point average.

Program Essay Instructions

Some PTCAS programs require applicants to respond to a custom essay question in addition to the standard PTCAS essay question. The PTCAS application will automatically prompt you to respond to the custom essays for your designated programs. The custom essay question for this program is below. (If blank, then no program-specific essay is required).

Why have you choosen Columbia University's program to pursue your DPT education?

FOREIGN APPLICANTS AND TRANSCRIPTS

The program’s foreign (international) transcript policies do NOT apply to study abroad coursework that is itemized on a U.S. college or university transcript. Study abroad is processed in the same way as U.S. coursework.

Program’s citizenship requirements (individuals listed may be eligible for admission):	U.S. citizens U.S. permanent residents Canadian citizens Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens with a visa Foreign (non-U.S.) citizens
Program requires non-native speakers to submit TOEFL scores?	Yes
Program policy for submission of non-U.S. (foreign/international) coursework:	Send a foreign transcript evaluation directly to the program AND a second copy to PTCAS.
Program policy for CANADIAN coursework:	Send original Canadian transcript directly to program/ and a second copy to PTCAS.
Additional information about program’s policy on foreign coursework:	English translation is required for all foreign transcripts. It is recommended that foreign applicants use World Education Services for translational purposes.

PROGRAM INFORMATION

PT Degree Offered:	Program culminates in a doctoral (DPT) degree.
PT Program Start Date(s) For Entering Class – YYYY-MM-DD:	2009-09-08
Dual-degree programs offered in conjunction with the PT degree (if any)	.
Institution's religious affiliation (if any)	.

Profile of Most Recent Entering Class

Items will be blank if program data is not available or applicable.

Size of Most Recent Entering Class	53
Anticipated Size of Next Entering Class	50
Percent of IN-STATE students in most recent entering class	34%
Percent of WICHE students in most recent entering classd (if applicable):
Percent of OUT-OF-STATE (non-resident) students in most recent entering class	66%
Percent of CANADIAN students in most recent entering class
Percent of INTERNATIONAL (non-U.S/non-Canadian) students in most recent entering class
Additional information about the class profile:	As an ivy league university, no preference is given between in-state and out-of-state applicants.

PROGRAM DESCRIPTION

Columbia University's DPT program prepares graduates with clinical problem solving skills. Students graduate with a comprehensive foundation of basic principles in the art and science of physical therapy. With 11 full-time faculty and a roster of distinguished adjunct faculty and laboratory instructors from Columbia Medical Center, the New York City area and nation-wide, students are ensured a comprehensive and cutting-edge curriculum. In recognition of the varied abilities and interests of students, the curriculum is designed to be flexible and innovative, incorporating a wide variety of adult learning methodologies, including clinical decision-making, evidence-based practice and self-directed learning. Students complete a capstone project, have the opportunity for specialized skill development in adult neurorehabilitation, orthopedics or pediatrics through advanced course work and electives offered during the second and third year of study. There is opportunity for more intensive research experience via a research practicum that begins as early as summer of Year I or enhancement of teaching skills via a teaching practicum in fall of Year III.

Students participate in a White Coat Ceremony to welcome the beginning of their transition in becoming empathetic practitioners, a Mentorship Program, which pairs students with physical therapists from the Medical Center and other affiliation sites in New York City, 2 full-time clinical rotations of 8 and 10 week duration and an 18-week internship as the culminating experience of the curriculum. Clinical education sites are located throughout the US, Australia and other countries and mirror today's practice environments.

The Columbia physical therapy educational experience goes beyond the classroom through a pursuit of interests outside the profession. Columbia students are members of an extensive and dynamic university community in a city that has a multitude of cultural and recreational activities.